The Ten Biggest Draft Busts in Atlanta Falcons History

By Carter Breazeale | Apr 15, 2017

Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of the stage and podium before the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /

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Number Six: Peria Jerry

For Falcons fans, Peria Jerry’s legacy in Atlanta is that he should have been Clay Matthews. Atlanta selected the Ole Miss DT at the 24th spot in 2009 draft, one slot ahead of the future Green Bay linebacker, in a decision that general manager Thomas Dimitroff laments to this day. Peria Jerry’s tenure was defined by injuries, and he famously retired from the NFL during Atlanta’s season of Hard Knocks.

– Carter Breazeale